Police Log

Posted
Thursday, April 20, 2017 3:00 pm

The Police Log is a digest of reports provided by the Johnston and Rhode Island State Police Departments.

PURSUIT

On April 18 at 2:29 p.m., Johnston Police attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop for registration violations on Plainfield Street. As the officer exited his cruiser the male operator, later identified as Shawn Cornwell, age 40, of Providence, accelerated his vehicle and fled the scene traveling east on Plainfield Street.

As the initial contact officer pursued, additional units were dispatched. As one unit was traveling west on Plainfield Street to assist, the suspect allegedly swerved his vehicle directly at the officer who had to pull off the road into the breakdown lane to avoid being struck. The pursuit continued into Providence and both Providence Police and State Police were notified of the circumstances.

While in Providence the vehicle slowed on Gray Street and a female passenger jumped out of the vehicle as the suspect continued on. Johnston Police stopped the pursuit to attend to the female who sustained minor injuries as the suspect traveled towards Mount Pleasant Avenue. Through the investigation the vehicle was located in Providence and Cornwell was positively identified as the operator.

An arrest warrant was drafted for felony assault with a vehicle, misdemeanor eluding an officer and operating without a license. No officers were injured. Anyone with information on Cornwell’s whereabouts can contact Johnston Police at 231-4210.

SHOPLIFTING

On April 10 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Officer Arthur Petteruti responded to the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Stonehill Drive in reference to a shoplifting that had already occurred.

At the store, he met with the manager who stated that at approximately 3:06 p.m., an alarm was triggered. When she reviewed the store’s surveillance footage, she observed a female suspect enter the establishment at 3:04 p.m. The woman headed to aisle two where the vacuums are stored. There she placed a Dyson vacuum and two Roomba vacuums, with a total value of $1,009.97, into a carriage. She then exited through an emergency exit without paying for the merchandise.

Officer Petteruti viewed the video footage, which did not show the woman entering a vehicle as she walked out of view of the store’s camera. She was described as white with brown hair wearing a gray dress with black shoes. A copy of the video was obtained for evidence and the report was forwarded to detectives for review.

On April 12 around 1:39 p.m., Patrolman Adam Parkinson, along with several members of the department, returned to the store in reference to a report that the possible suspect had returned to the business. At the scene, he found Nicole Maynard, 37, of 119 Washington St. in West Warwick along with two men who were detained outside near a green Ford Ranger truck.

While on-scene, Officer Parkinson was presented with a copy of a bulletin from BJ’s in Seekonk, Massachusetts. That store recently created the bulletin with photographs of Maynard and the Ford Ranger as being connected to the theft of a television from the Seekonk store on April 9. According to the police report, the store indicated that Maynard is the same suspect that targeted both stores.

Maynard initially provided a different last name and date of birth. She insisted that was her name and that she had no alias or other name. She failed to provide valid identification, and as she was the prime suspect in the shoplifting case she was taken to police headquarters.

At the station, Maynard admitted to stealing the vacuums and selling them to someone in Pawtucket for $250, stating she needed the money. She was subsequently charged with felony shoplifting as a habitual offender.

The Ford Ranger was found to have registration plates, which did not match the vehicle. Its operator, Ivan Thibedau, 56, of 40 Curson St., Apt. 2C in West Warwick, was found to have a suspended license. He was issued a Third District Court summons along with a Traffic Tribunal summons for operation of an unregistered vehicle and improper evidence of registration. He vehicle was towed and he was released at the scene.

The third man, Brian Gravier, 38, of 119 Washington St., Apt. 1 in West Warwick, was found to have an active Third District Court bench warrant for failure to appear on a suspended license charge. He was placed under arrest and later remanded to the ACI.

DISPUTE

On April 11 around 10:08 a.m., Officer Derek Parascandolo responded to 15 Waterman Ave. for a reported domestic verbal argument. While en route, dispatch advised that the woman involved, identified as Morgan MacDonald, 31, of the above address, was attempting to leave the scene. It was also advised that she was wanted by the Smithfield Police Department for shoplifting as well as an active Superior Court warrant for failure to appear from a domestic felony assault charge.

At the scene, Officer Parascandolo observed MacDonald walking along Waterman Avenue. She was detained and stated that an argument at the resident had become “heated” and she left the apartment.

MacDonald was placed under arrest without incident and transported to police headquarters before being turned over to the Smithfield Police Department.